U.S. patent number 5,709,963 [Application Number 08/684,885] was granted by the patent office on 1998-01-20 for battery pack.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Daewoo Electronics Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Jae-Hoon Sim.
United States Patent |
5,709,963 |
Sim |
January 20, 1998 |
Battery pack
Abstract
A battery pack is disclosed, in which terminal members can be
fixed to cases, and which its entire volume can be reduced. The
battery pack comprises a pair of battery cells electrically
connected in series to each other, a pair of cases receiving the
battery cells and including a lid, a cell receiving portion, and a
connecting portion respectively, and a pair of terminal members
connected to electrodes of the battery cells and fixed to a case so
that they are externally exposed. According to the battery pack, as
the battery cells are received so as to be exposed outside the
cases, its total volume can be reduced. In addition, it has another
advantage of fixing the terminal members to the cases positively
and easily.
Inventors: |
Sim; Jae-Hoon (Seoul,
KR) |
Assignee: |
Daewoo Electronics Co., Inc.
(Seoul, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
26143815 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/684,885 |
Filed: |
July 25, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/99; 429/100;
429/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M
6/44 (20130101); H01M 50/213 (20210101); H01M
50/543 (20210101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01M
6/44 (20060101); H01M 2/10 (20060101); H01M
6/42 (20060101); H01M 2/30 (20060101); H01M
002/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;429/96,99,100,159 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61-39861 |
|
Mar 1986 |
|
JP |
|
5-35562 |
|
Feb 1993 |
|
JP |
|
5-35562 |
|
Sep 1993 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Kalafut; Stephen
Assistant Examiner: Krueger; Jonathan S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Foley & Lardner
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A battery pack comprising:
a first case including a first lid, a first cell receiving portion
for receiving and supporting first and second battery cells each
having electrodes, and a first connecting portion for connecting
the first cell receiving portion with said first lid, said first
and second battery cells being physically arranged in parallel and
connected electrically in series to each other, said first lid
including a pair of first apertures formed on an outer side surface
thereof, a pair of second apertures formed at an upper surface
thereof, and a pair of terminal member supporting portions shaped
like recesses to connect the first apertures and the second
apertures to each other, and said first lid, the first cell
receiving portion, and the first connecting portion being
integrally formed;
a second case including a second lid engaged with said first lid, a
second cell receiving portion for receiving and supporting said
first and second battery cells by engagement with the first cell
receiving portion, and a second connecting portion for connecting
the second cell receiving portion with said second lid, said second
lid, the second cell receiving portion, and the second connecting
portion being integrally formed; and
first and second terminal members, each having a connecting end
inserted through one of the first apertures of said first case so
that each connecting end is fixed to said first case, and a fixing
end inserted through one of the second apertures so that each
fixing end is electrically connected with one of said electrodes of
said first and second battery cells, said first and second terminal
members being located on the terminal member supporting portions,
and the fixing end of said first and second terminal members being
inserted through the second apertures and being bent towards an
interior of said first case so that said first and second terminal
members are fixed to said first case.
2. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the fixing ends of
said first and second terminal members are each bent into a U-like
shape.
3. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said first case has
a planar W-like shape, and said first and second cases cover a
space between said first and second battery cells and expose
external side surface portions of said first and second battery
cells.
4. A battery pack according to claim 3, wherein a radius of a
curvature of arcuate portions of said first and second lids and the
first and second cell receiving portions is equal to a radius of
said first and second battery cells, outside and inside surfaces of
the first connecting portion being concaved and convexed
respectively, and outside and inside of the second connecting
portion being planar and convexed respectively.
5. A battery pack comprising:
a first case including a first lid, a first cell receiving portion
for receiving and supporting first and second battery cells each
having electrodes, and a first connecting portion for connecting
the first cell receiving portion with said first lid, said first
and second battery cells being arranged physically in parallel and
connected electrically in series to each other, said first lid
including a pair of first apertures formed on an outer side surface
thereof, a pair of second apertures formed at an upper surface
thereof, and a pair of terminal member supporting portions shaped
like recesses to connect the first apertures and the second
apertures to each other, said first lid, the first cell receiving
portion, and the first connecting portion being integrally formed,
and said first case having a planar W-like shape;
a second case including a second lid engaged with said first lid, a
second cell receiving portion for receiving and supporting said
first and second battery cells by engagement with the first cell
receiving portion, and a second connecting portion for connecting
the second cell receiving portion with said second lid, said second
lid, the second cell receiving portion, and the second connecting
portion being integrally formed, said first and second cases
covering a space between said first and second battery cells and
exposing external side surface portions of said first and second
battery cells; and
first and second terminal members, each having a connecting end
inserted through one of the first apertures of said first case so
that each connecting end is fixed to said first case, and a fixing
end inserted through one of the second apertures so that each
fixing end is electrically connected with one of said electrodes of
said first and second battery cells, said first and second terminal
members being located on the terminal member supporting portions
and the fixing end of said first and second terminal members being
inserted through the second apertures and being bent towards an
interior of said first case so that said first and second terminal
members are fixed to said first case.
6. A battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the fixing ends of
said first and second terminal members are each bent into a U-like
shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery pack, and more
particularly to a battery pack which can be used as an electric
power source for a portable device, especially as an electric power
source for a camera.
2. Prior Art
An example of a battery pack used as an electric power source for a
portable device such as a camera, a portable video camera, or the
like is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication
No. 61-39861. The battery pack includes a pair of cases engaged
with each other, thus forming an inner space, a pair of battery
cells which is provided in the space formed by the cases and
electrically connected to each other, and two terminal members
exposed outside the cases, the ends of which are connected to the
positive and negative electrodes of the battery cells,
respectively.
In the above battery pack, the terminal members are exposed on both
cross sectional and side surfaces of the cases so that the terminal
members are easily connected to the device. Also, the deformation
of the terminal members by the external impact is solved by forming
supporting plates within openings of the battery pack.
However, because the ends of terminal members are not sufficiently
inserted into the recesses formed at the inner sides of the
openings, the terminal members may be in a loose and/or mismatching
state. Further, when the other ends of the terminal members are
electrically connected to the electrodes of the battery cells by
welding, the terminal members become higher than the recesses due
to a response to the welding pressure. Thus, the appearance of the
battery pack is poor.
A battery pack which can overcome the above-mentioned
disadvantages, for example, is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model
Publication No. 5-35562.
A battery pack 10 of the above publication, as shown in FIGS. 1
through 3, includes a pair of battery cells 12 which are
electrically connected in series to each other, a pair of terminal
members 16 respectively connected to positive and negative
electrodes 14 of battery cells 12, a pair of cases 18 and 20 which
form a space for receiving battery cells 12, and to which terminal
members 16 are fixed.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, terminal members 16 penetrate
openings 22 formed at the side surface of the upper portion of a
case 18 and are supported by reverse L-shaped supports 24 which are
formed at the upper portion of case 18. Further, terminal members
16 are fixed to the cases 18 and 20 by engaging case 18 with case
20. According to the above Japanese Utility Model Publication, the
ends of terminal members 16 are supported by the reverse L-shaped
supports 24 formed from the side to ends of cases 18 and 20, and
are fixed to cases 18 and 20 by inserting the other ends of
terminal members 16 into the recesses formed on the inner side of
the cross section of case 20.
However, in the above battery pack 10, since terminal members 16
are fixed to cases 18 and 20 only through the engagement of cases
18 and 20, great attention is necessary during the assembling
process. In addition, since the battery cells 12 are enclosed
within the inner space formed by cases 18 and 20, the volume of the
battery pack 10 is much greater than the total that of battery
cells 12.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,731 issued to Machida et. al. on Mar. 5,
1991, a battery pack wherein the cases and lids are manufactured
separately is disclosed. According to the battery pack of Machida
et al., the battery cells are placed in the space formed by a pair
of cases and are electrically connected to each other by using a
connecting piece. Then, the end openings of the cases are closed
after the terminal members are fixed to the positive and negative
electrodes of the battery cells. However, according to the battery
pack of Machida et al., since the cases and lids should be
manufactured separately, a lot of the manufacturing steps are
needed. In addition, since the battery cells are placed on the
lower lid, they might be released from the battery pack by an
unintentional separation of the lower lid from the cases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
battery pack having a small volume which may be easily
manufactured.
To accomplish the object of the present invention, the present
invention provides a battery pack comprising:
a first case including a first lid, a first cell receiving portion
for receiving and supporting first and second battery cells, and a
first connecting portion for connecting the first cell receiving
portion with the first lid, wherein the first and second battery
cells are arranged in parallel and electrically connected in series
to each other, the first lid includes a pair of first apertures
formed on an outer side surface thereof, a pair of second apertures
formed at an upper surface thereof, and a pair of terminal member
supporting portions which are shaped like recesses to connect the
first apertures and the second apertures to each other, and the
first lid, the first cell receiving portion, and the first
connecting portion are integrally formed;
a second case including a second lid engaged with the first lid, a
second cell receiving portion for receiving and supporting the
first and second battery cells by engagement with the first cell
receiving portion, and a second connecting portion for connecting
the second cell receiving portion with the second lid, wherein the
second lid, the second cell receiving portion, and the second
connecting portion are integrally formed; and
a first and second terminal members, each having a connecting end
which is inserted through one of the first apertures of the first
case so that they are fixed to the first case, and a fixing end
which is inserted through one of the second aperture so that it is
electrically connected with one of electrodes of the first and
second battery cells, wherein the first and second terminal members
are located on the terminal member supporting portions.
According to the present invention, the first and second battery
cells are electrically connected in series to each other through a
connecting sheet. The fixing ends of the first and second terminal
members are inserted through the second apertures of the first lid
so that they are fixed at the inner surface of the first lid, and
the connecting ends are inserted through the first apertures.
Then, the first and second battery cells, which are electrically
connected in series to each other by the connecting piece, are
placed on the first cell receiving portion of the first case. The
second case is engaged with the first case after the connecting
ends of the first and second terminal members are fixed to the
electrodes Of the battery cells respectively by welding or the
like.
According to the present invention, the terminal members are fixed
to the cases firmly and easily. In addition, the entire volume of a
battery pack can be reduced by eliminating unnecessary portions of
the cases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above object and other advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments
thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional battery
pack;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the battery pack of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of B of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack of an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the battery pack of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG.
6; and
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view of part D of FIG. 7
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings, in
which the same reference numerals represent the same elements.
FIGS. 5 to 8 show a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 5, a battery pack 100 of an embodiment of the
present invention includes first and second battery cells 110 and
112 which are arranged in parallel and electrically connected in
series to each other, first and second terminal members 120 and 122
electrically connected to electrodes 114 of first and second
battery cells 110 and 112 respectively, a first case 130 to which
first and second terminal members 120 and 122 are integrally fixed,
and a second case 140 which is engaged with first case 130 and is
integrally formed, thus receiving first and second battery cells
110 and 112.
As shown in FIG. 5, first and second battery cells 110 and 112 are
arranged in parallel so that opposite electrodes 114 of first and
second battery cells 110 and 112 are side by side, and electrodes
114 are electrically connected in series to each other. For
example, the positive electrode of first battery cell 110 is
electrically connected in series to the negative electrode of
second battery cell 112 by a connecting piece 116 and vice
versa.
First and second terminal members 120 and 122, which have a U-like
shape as shown in FIG. 5, include connecting ends 121 and 123
respectively connected to the electrodes of first and second
battery cells 110 and 112, and fixing ends 124 and 125 fixed to
first case 130.
Fixing ends 124 and 125 are bent several times, thus having an
U-like shape. First case 130, having a W-like planar shape as shown
in FIG. 6, includes a first cell receiving portion 132 for
receiving and supporting first and second battery cells 110 and
112, a first lid 134 to which first and second terminal members 120
and 122 are fixed, and a first connecting portion 136 for
connecting first cell receiving portion 132 with first lid 134.
First apertures and second apertures 135 and 137 are formed on the
side and upper surface of first lid 134, respectively. Terminal
member supporting portions 138 are recesses and are formed so as to
connect first and second apertures 135 and 137 to each other.
Fixing ends 124 and 125 of first and second terminal members 120
and 122 are inserted into second apertures 137, and connecting ends
121 and 123 thereof are inserted into first apertures 137 so that
they are connected with the positive and negative electrodes of
first and second battery cells 110 and 112. Thus, first and second
terminal members 120 and 122 are placed on terminal member
supporting portions 138.
First lid 134 is formed so that the radius of curvature of arcuate
portions 139 thereof is equal to the radius of first and second
battery cells 110 and 112. First connecting portion 136 is formed
so that the radius of curvature of the outer surface thereof is
equal to that of concaved portion between terminal member
supporting portions 138 of first lid 134.
Second case 140 includes a second cell receiving portion 142 for
receiving and supporting first and second battery cells 110 and 112
by engagement with first cell receiving portion 132, a second lid
144 engaged with first lid 134, and a second connecting portion 146
for connecting second cell receiving portion 142 with second lid
144. Arcuate portions 139 of second lid 144 are formed so that the
curvature of arcuate portions 139 is equal to that of first and
second battery cells 110 and 112. Also, second connecting portion
146 is formed so that outer surface thereof is a plane, and covers
the concaved portion between first and second battery cells 110 and
112.
Therefore, battery pack 100 of an embodiment of the present
invention has a plan view as shown in FIG. 6.
A procedure for assembling of battery pack 100 of an embodiment of
the present embodiment is as follows.
First and second battery cells 110 and 112 are arranged in parallel
so that opposite electrodes 114 thereof are side by side, and then
are connected in series to each other through connecting piece 116.
Fixing ends 124 and 125 of first and second terminal members 120
and 122 are inserted into second apertures 137 and then are bent
toward the inner surface of first lid 134 so that they are fixed,
and connecting ends 121 and 123 are inserted into first apertures
137.
Then, first and second battery cells 110 and 112 are connected by
connecting piece 116, and are placed on first cell receiving
portion 132. First and second cases 130 and 140 are engaged with
each other after connecting ends 121 and 123 of first and second
terminal members 120 and 122 are fixed to first and second
electrodes 114 of first and second battery cells 110 and 112 by
welding or the like.
Therefore, the outer surfaces of battery cells 110 and 112 received
in the cases 130 and 140 are externally exposed.
As described in the embodiment, in the battery pack according to
the present invention, the terminal members can be easily fixed to
the cases, which can be ensured. In addition, the volume of the
battery pack can be reduced by removing unnecessary portions of the
conventional battery pack.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes
in form and details may be effected therein without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *